American Prodigy: Becoming Great

Chris looks back at the career of 3x Super Bowl Champion WR Julian Edelman and how Julian went from QB to WR, fitting in with the Patriots offense, his relationships with Tom Brady & Bill Belichick, the Patriots 2016 resurgence and Super Bowl LI, Super Bowl LII, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chris reviews the career of Hall of Fame RB Eric Dickerson and discusses Eric's upbringing in the small of town of Sealy, Texas, his record-breaking performances in the NFL, playing for the Rams in the 80's, his stints with the Colts and the Raiders and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chris highlights the career of Hall of Fame LT Tony Boselli with discussion about the pressure of being a high pick for a new franchise, Tony getting his own McDonalds burger, career ending injuries, Tony's long wait for his Hall of Fame induction and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chris looks at the career of 2x Super Bowl champion DE Osi Umenyiora as he reviews Osi's journey from London to Nigeria to Alabama, learning from coach Mike Waufle, the journey to Super Bowl XLII, missing the 2008 season and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chris reflects on the career of former NFL QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and Ryan's time at Harvard University, his stints with multiple NFL teams, Fitzmagic, how Ryan wants to be remembered and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chris breaks down the career of Hall of Fame WR Terrell Owens & highlights TO playing with his idol, Jerry Rice, his iconic celebrations, excelling with the Eagles before his ankle injury, his journey to the Hall of Fame, the possibility of coming back to play in the NFL and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chris highlights the career of Super Bowl champion and former teammate RT Lane Johnson as he discusses growing up in east Texas, his transition from quarterback to right tackle, Super Bowl LII, his journey with mental health and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For the first episode, Chris Long breaks down Super Bowl Champion & All-Pro DT Aaron Donald's football journey; from the days in the dungeon with his dad, to being a breakout DT at Pittsburgh, to playing with the Rams and creating the top defensive moves in his arsenal, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it mean to be great?Greatness might indicate a Hall of Fame career. But it can also be exemplified by blazing new trails o the field, or carving out a unique role in the pages of history. There are many different ways to be great, and everyone’s path is one-of-a-kind.Two-time Super Bowl champ and 11-year NFL vet, Chris Long, highlights a handful of NFLers who have been on fascinating journeys, and takes you on a trip through their life stories, and explores the true definition of “greatness.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Amira Rose Davis and story editor Jessica Luther recap their highlights from the American Prodigies series, talk about the gymnasts and topics that they wished they could have covered, and consider whether to abandon gymnastics or whether there’s something there worth believing in. Click here for the transcript of episode 9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brown Girls Do Gymnastics was born in 2015 with a mission to serve underrepresented and marginalized athletes in gymnastics and the circus arts. Its founder, Derrin Moore, talks to Amira about her work – from teaching parents how to advocate for their children in this particular sport, to launching a women’s gymnastics program at Fisk University.Click here for the transcript of episode 8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

**Content note** This episode contains graphic accounts of sexual abuse and child neglect. There are also accounts of physical and emotional abuse, suicidal ideation, and racism.In 2016, both Simone and Gabby are on the world’s stage — and USAG starts to crack. There’s no accountability, just complete institutional failure to protect young women in this sport and it’s starting to boil over. Jordan Chiles, Jessica Luther, mental health expert Alanna Gardner, and Nellie Biles talk about the crucial period between 2016 and 2021 — the role Simone played in it — and the toll being a symbol with power can take.Click here for the transcript of episode 7 Click here for the Blue Wire newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode looks at how Black gymnasts came to create spaces of joy for themselves and how college programs benefited from that. After Olympic dreams are dashed because of injury, some elite gymnasts, like Sophina DeJesus and Nia Dennis, opt to compete at top-notch college programs. Sophina and Nia talk about their journeys at UCLA and how they created floor routines viewed by millions online. Valorie Kondos Field (“Miss Val”), UCLA’s famed retired head coach, describes the diversity at UCLA gymnastics as a happy accident. The gymnasts’ mothers, Maria DeJesus and Deetra Dennis share the different paths they took to protect their daughters while encouraging them to embrace their authentic selves. Click here for the transcript of episode 6 Click here for the Blue Wire Newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Amira has a conversation with Dr. Samantha Sheppard and Dr. Courtney Cox answering, “Whatever happened to Gabby Douglas?” The trio zoom in and out of Gabby’s career, highlighting her as a transitional figure between Black pioneers like Dominique Dawes and today’s media savvy icons like Simone Biles. They also share their personal experiences as Black women in academia to help bring context to what Gabby was up against as a Black girl in white spaces.Click here for the transcript for episode 5Click here for the Blue Wire newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When you ask people of a certain age to remember the first Black gymnast, odds are they’ll remember Dominique Dawes. What they don’t remember – or maybe never knew about – is the immense pressure that she faced as a Black prodigy in the sport. Today, Dominique is using her powerful legacy to distance herself from USA Gymnastics and ensure that future gymnasts have the childhood she never did.Click here for the transcript of episode 4 Click here for the Blue Wire newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Betty Okino started gymnastics “late” — at age 9 — and begged her mother to let her train with Bela Karolyi so that she could realize her Olympic dream. She won bronze medals at the 1992 Olympics. And despite having stories of training until her knees and back broke, being denied food, and being pitted against her teammates, it was only recently that she began to admit to herself that Karolyi’s training methods constituted abuse. Now, as a coach and choreographer, Betty approaches her responsibilities very differently. Click here for the transcript of episode 3 Click here for the Blue Wire newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dianne Durham could have represented the United States at the 1984 Olympics in LA, but she was injured during trials. A combination of racism and internal gymnastics coaching politics meant that she was unable to petition for a spot on the team. In this episode, we give the trailblazer the flowers she deserved – almost four decades overdue.Click here for the transcript for episode 2Click here for the Blue Wire newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jordan Chiles tells Amira about losing her love for gymnastics and how she discovered who she wanted to become – just in time to win a silver medal in Tokyo in 2021. Click here for the transcript of episode 1Click here for the Blue Wire newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This season of American Prodigies is the story of how Black girls moved from the margins of gymnastics to the core. You’ll hear from trailblazers and viral sensations – coaches and mentors and trainers – journalists and academics – and athletes themselves – as we unpack what it means to be a Black girl in gymnastics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Amira talks with her Burn It All Down cohost, Jessica Luther, about what to expect from this season of American Prodigies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.