Burn It All Down

This episode of Burn It All Down was recorded in front of a live audience at Bowling Green State University on March 27, 2025. We’re back...for a single live show. If you have not heard the show itself, you can find it on your feed now. This is the Q+A with the live audience that followed. We are not resuming weekly shows at this point, but we do have another live show scheduled at the end of May in Gatineau, Canada (more on that to come). If you are interested in bringing BIAD to your location for a live show, please contact us through our website: ⁠https://www.burnitalldownpod.com/⁠ EPISODE NOTES: We want to thank Dr. Vikki Krane, the Social Justice through Sport and Exercise Psychology Symposium, Amy J. Kolk, and everyone else at BGSU for bringing us back together for a live show. A special shout out to Phil Beskid for recording all of our audio. This episode was produced by Martin Kessler. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check out our website: ⁠http://www.burnitalldownpod.com⁠ NOTE: We will have a transcript for this episode available on our site as soon as we can, though not as quickly as we used to. We are not the well-oiled machine we used to be; things take more time these days. For BIAD merchandise: ⁠https://teespring.com/stores/burn-it-all-down⁠ Find us on Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/burnitalldownpod.com⁠; Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/BurnItAllDownPod/⁠; and Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/burnitalldownpod/

This episode of Burn It All Down was recorded in front of a live audience at Bowling Green State University on March 27, 2025. We’re back...for a single live show. We are not resuming weekly shows at this point, but we do have another live show scheduled at the end of May in Gatineau, Canada (more on that to come). If you are interested in bringing BIAD to your location for a live show, please contact us through our website: https://www.burnitalldownpod.com/ EPISODE SUMMARY: This week, Shireen, Lindsay, Amira, Brenda, and Jessica talk about sports at, what feels like, the end of the world. They discuss the dissonance and relationship between all the good that is happening within sports and the brutal societal attack on trans people’s civil rights, especially on trans girls and women in sports, the rollback of diversity/equity/inclusion on college campuses as athletes begin to secure more labor rights, and the United States’ horrific isolationist and nationalist movements as the US, Mexico, and Canada get ready to host some of the world’s biggest international sporting events. And, as always, you’ll hear the Burn Pile and Torchbearers, starring, well, us. EPISODE NOTES: We want to thank Dr. Vikki Krane, the Social Justice through Sport and Exercise Psychology Symposium, Amy J. Kolk, and everyone else at BGSU for bringing us back together for a live show. A special shout out to Phil Beskid for recording all of our audio. This episode was produced by Martin Kessler. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check out our website: http://www.burnitalldownpod.com NOTE: We will have a transcript for this episode available on our site as soon as we can, though not as quickly as we used to. We are not the well-oiled machine we used to be; things take more time these days. For BIAD merchandise: https://teespring.com/stores/burn-it-all-down Find us on Blueskey: https://bsky.app/profile/burnitalldownpod.com; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BurnItAllDownPod/; and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnitalldownpod/

In this episode, the whole team -- Lindsay Gibbs, Amira Rose Davis, Shireen Ahmed, Brenda Elsey and Jessica Luther -- is together. First they discuss upcoming Halloween costumes. Then, they share a very important announcement. Following this discussion, they preview a special Patreon segment about bold predictions for sports outcomes in 2022. Then, you'll here a preview of Amira's interview with Sam Coffey of the Portland Thorns and Ellie Jean of Gotham FC, on their first NWSL...

In this episode, Amira Rose Davis interviews her former students, Ellie Jean of Gotham FC and Sam Coffey of the Portland Thorns, about their first season in the NWSL. They also talk about how their college journey impacted who they are now and their goals for the future. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media wizard. For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check out our website: www.burnitalldownpod.com For BIAD merchandise:...

In this episode, Amira Rose Davis interviews her former students, Ellie Jean of Gotham FC and Sam Coffey of the Portland Thorns, about their first season in the NWSL. They also talk about how their college journey impacted who they are now and their goals for the future. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network. For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check...

In this episode, Amira Rose Davis, Jessica Luther and Lindsay Gibbs recap the current madness of fall sports. But first, they share memorable moments from their live show at the University of Notre Dame. Then, they discuss all things fall and sports, including updates on rookie quarterbacks and the start to the NFL; the MLB post-season; soccer, including English Premier League football standings and both the NWSL and MLS playoffs; F1 racing drama; college sports like football, soccer,...

In this episode, Amira Rose Davis and Brenda Elsey interview Jack Swarbrick, Athletic Director at the University of Notre Dame. They discuss the modern challenges and opportunities of running an athletic program in the NCAA. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our social media and website specialist. Burn It All Down is part of the Blue Wire podcast network. For show notes, transcripts, and more info about BIAD, check out our website: www.burnitalldownpod.com To...

In this episode, Jessica Luther, Amira Rose Davis, Shireen Ahmed, Lindsay Gibbs, and Brenda Elsey are live at the University of Notre Dame. First they share their favorite Notre Dame trivia. Then, they discuss protecting -- or not -- the labor of athletes, starting off with the the recent Sally Yates report about sexual and racial abuse in the NWSL by former coaches Paul Riley, Christie Holly, and Rory Dames, and the lack of accountability by US soccer federation and Safe Sport, and...

In this episode, Shireen Ahmed interviews Alison Mariella Désir, endurance athlete, activist, mental health advocate and author of the book Running While Black. They talk about Alison's writing process, relationship with endurance running in as Black woman in a white sport. To pre-order Running While Black, which publishes October 18, 2022, visit: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/675749/running-while-black-by-alison-mariella-desir/ This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby...

In this episode, Jessica Luther spoke with three women in US rugby: Kerri Heffernan, who has been a part of rugby in the US for many decades and is currently the Chair of the Women’s Rugby Coaches and Referees Association; Kat Aversano, the head coach of the Howard University women’s rugby team; and Alycia Washington, one of the top current players in the US. They discuss the history of the sport, the incredible community among rugby athletes and the growing pains of the game in the U.S....

Note: Next week, Burn It All Down has a live show at the University of Notre Dame on October 11. Reserve a free ticket here. In this episode, Shireen Ahmed, Lindsay Gibbs and Jessica Luther dive into the most recent cheating scandals in sport. But first, they talk about where they would put a new franchise of an unestablished sport. Then, they discuss the latest in sports soap operas. First is chess, where a teenage takedown of a longtime world champion, caused said champion to quit a...

In this episode, Brenda Elsey, Lindsay Gibbs and Jessica Luther dissect Brett Favre's welfare fraud. But first, they talk about what occupation they would have if they weren't an historian and journalists. Then, they discuss how sports have defrauded the public, dissecting the most recent headline about former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre stealing millions from the Mississippi's welfare funds to build a volleyball stadium. They talk about how this story broken by a local...

In this episode, Lindsay Gibbs interviews Andrew Maraniss, special projects coordinator at Vanderbilt University and author. They discuss his latest book Inaugural Ballers, which tells the story of the 1976 Women’s Olympic Basketball team, who laid the foundation for the rise of women’s sports in the U.S.. This team included many players who would become some of the most legendary figures in the history of basketball like Pat Head Summit, Lusia Harris, Nancy Lieberman, Ann Meyers, coach...

In this episode, Lindsay Gibbs, Shireen Ahmed and Jessica Luther break down the recent report on the behavior of Robert Sarver, owner of the Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix Suns basketball teams. But first, they talk about the retirement of tennis great Roger Federer. Then, they dig into a report released by a law firm and commissioned by the NBA to look into allegations of of Robert Sarver's sexist and racist violations of common work place standards. The NBA responded by fining Sarver $10...

In this episode, Lindsay Gibbs and Sabreena Merchant, W/NBA writer for SB Nation and co-host of The Step Through, break down the rollercoaster of the WNBA playoffs, including Becky Hammon's historic championship title with league MVP A'ja Wilson, playoff MVP Chelsea Gray, and rest of the dynamic Las Vegas Aces team. They also discuss the potential off seasons trades and moves for the Connecticut Sun, Seattle Storm and LA Sparks, as well as the potential impact of the CBA's prioritization...

In this episode, Shireen Ahmed and Amira Rose Davis discuss who the sporting world has responded to the death of Queen Elizabeth II. But first, they talk about their favorite recent concerts, including Bad Bunny and a candlelight Vivaldi quartet. Then, they dive into the ways athletes and sporting institutions have reacted to the Queen's death, including messages of reverence and resistance. The also discuss the ways sports like football and cricket have been used by the British monarchy as...

In this episode Shireen Ahmed interviews Daniel Sailofsky, a lecturer in criminology and sociology at Middlesex University London, whose research examines gender and gender-based violence, masculinity, sport sociology and labor, and the sociology of law. They discuss Sailofsky's recent article in The Guardian called, "NFL season is here but I won’t be following anymore. I can’t un-see the harm it causes." They talk about his decision to say goodbye to a longtime NFL fandom, which includes...

Before we get into this episode, a content warning. We talk about mental health and suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please call the national suicide and crisis lifeline at 988 in the United States or 1-833-456-4566 in Canada. Please take care while listening. In this episode, Amira Rose Davis, Shireen Ahmed and Lindsay Gibbs do a fall sports round-up! But first, they talk about the devastating flooding in Pakistan and water crises in Jackson, Mississippi. For links to...

In this episode, Amira Rose Davis interviews Victoria Jackson, sports historian and Clinical Assistant Professor of History in the School of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies at Arizona State University. They discuss the struggle for power in the NIL system, the college football money machine, the mental health crisis in higher education and how the overturning of Roe vs. Wade will impact collegiate athletes. This episode was produced by Tressa Versteeg. Shelby Weldon is our...

In this episode, Brenda Elsey and Lindsay Gibbs talk about the latest news from the NWSL and USWNT. But first, they share their reactions to Serena William's first round US Open win. Then, they delve into the most recent controversies and celebrations in women's soccer in the US. They start with the controversies, including criticism over Vlatko Andonovksi USWNT call-ups, the firing of Kris Ward from head coach of the Washington Spirit, and the NWSL Player's Unions filing a grievance over...