Worth It: Conversations on Race and Gender in Athletics

Emily's Bio! My name is Emily and I'm a Music Therapist and Music Teacher who picked up roller skating as a hobby several years ago. I'm a young, black, queer woman trying to push my limits and learn more about myself through skating. My favorite style of skating is rhythm and dance, with ramp skating at a close second. I love the people I'm meeting along my journey and the person I'm growing to become.

E.N. West, affectionately known as "E" (they/E), proudly hails from the DC metropolitan area, by way of Alexandria, Virginia. They graduated from William & Mary with dual degrees in American Studies and Government. E deeply believes "we are uninhibited when we know our power" and is committed to co-creating a world where everyone intimately knows how powerful they are and directs that power toward collective liberation. They are many things, but at the heart of all of them, they are a community organizer based in Seattle, Washington. In their moments of play and rest, E enjoys reading social justice literature, listening to podcasts of all kinds (especially those featuring QTPOC), cooking Blue Apron meals with friends & being the queer jock of their own dreams.

Susanne Johnson is a Family Medicine Nurse Practitioner who focuses on primary care across the lifespan and integration of medication assisted treatment for substance use disorders without primary care. She is currently the Associate Medical Director at Project HOPE in Camden, NJ where she has been practicing for 4 years. Susanne practices from a weight-neutral perspective and strives to approach patient care in a holistic fashion that takes into account not only bio-medical markers but social determinants of health. She is a community activist whose advocacy includes expanding primary care access and promoting respect for all bodies regardless of size, race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, health status, and ability. She enjoys joyful movement in several forms including strength training, hiking, and jazzercise in her living room.

Van is a Viet Chinese community organizer who grew up in Philadelphia. They enjoy working with young people to build up their leadership just like how when Van’s mentor has helped them grow when they were younger. They have been running since they were a sophomore in high school and they have a complicated relationship with running because of a condition. They also love to dragon boat, travel and bake in their free time. Stay soft!

Laura Smith is an avid snowboarder and snowboarding instructor living in the Northeast Kingdom in Vermont with her wife, two daughters, two dogs, five goats and four chickens. Her social justice work has the ultimate goal of making Vermont a place where black and brown people would want to live and work.

Omi (they/them) is a Black, Trans, and Queer athlete and coach involved in many sports and other activities. As an athlete and facilitator, they believe in the power of caring and challenging coaching in sport and in life.

Mike (he/him) is a licensed athletic trainer, injury rehabilitation specialist, manual therapy expert, and sport business professional. His mission is to affect change and empower his communities through sport, fitness & wellness. He has over 10 years of experience in the sport and fitness industries, and encourages those around him to 'stay festive' with his dynamic personality and unique love of functional anatomy, sports & pop culture. Tune in to this episode to hear Mike's story from working as a collegiate athletic trainer to founding Festive Fitness, his Philly-based BIPOC / LGBTIA inclusive & body positive personal training, group fitness & wellness business.

Amanda Gilliam is super heavyweight Masters weightlifter and the creator of Big Girl Barbell, a fat-positive, body-positive community for athletes in strength sports. Her community-based work centers folk’s full humanity and is inspired by the vision that marginalized bodies can ultimately be tools of liberation. Outside the gym, she works full-time in higher education administration, volunteers with immigrant organizations in the New York City metro area, teaches outdoor education workshops, and plays the cello.

Kai Stone is a native North Londoner. A life-long football fan and player, her Arsenal fanaticism passed down from her tough-as-nails Mom. The love of football was one of the earliest ways she was able to connect with people and forge friendships. In spite of the sexism and racism deeply embedded in the sport, Kai went on to be a successful junior athlete, play club football and now coaches a Girls Under 12 team. Off the pitch, Kai plays bass in two bands, Nekra and Child's Pose and has just finished her BA in Media and Sociology at Goldsmiths University. Likely to be found playing FIFA, crafting the perfect pop playlist, cuddling animals and/or hanging out with her wonderful girlfriend, Linnea.

Pri and Sarah introduce themselves and the show! Hear how they got into Muay Thai as unlikely jocks, fell hard for the sport and eventually became fighters. There have been some intense highs and heartbreaks along the way -- Pri and Sarah share their accounts of leaving a gym space that didn't serve them, finding a new team, becoming closer friends and finally, dreaming up this podcast!